Alert archive / Alaska / Gale Warnings in 2019
Gale Warning 688, NWS Anchorage, AK
NWS Anchorage, AK issued this gale warning at Dec 25, 2019, 3:05 AM AKST. It was in force for 5 days. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- Dec 25, 2019, 3:05 AM AKST (12:05 UTC)
- Expired
- Dec 30, 2019, 3:39 AM AKST
- In force
- 5 days
- Issued by
- NWS Anchorage, AK
The text
As transmitted.
287 FZAK62 PAFC 251205 OFFALU Offshore Waters Forecast National Weather Service Anchorage AK 305 AM AKST Wed Dec 25 2019 Offshore Waters Forecast for the Bering Sea Wind forecasts reflect the predominant speed and direction expected. Sea forecasts represent an average of the highest one-third of the combined wind wave and swell height. PKZ499-260215- 305 AM AKST Wed Dec 25 2019 .SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA... Strong northerly flow will be present in the Bering through today. A 981 mb low south of Kamchatka sends a front into the western Bering tonight through Thu. Northerly flow persists in the eastern Bering. $$ PKZ411-260215- Bering Sea Offshore West of 180 and East of the International Dateline- 305 AM AKST Wed Dec 25 2019 ...GALE WARNING THURSDAY... .TODAY...NE wind up to 15 kt becoming E in the afternoon. Seas 8 ft. .TONIGHT...E wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. Freezing spray. .THU...E wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 9 to 17 ft. .THU NIGHT...NE wind 25 to 35 kt. Seas 11 to 19 ft. .FRI THROUGH SUN...N wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 11 to 19 ft. $$ PKZ412-260215- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and North of 56N- 305 AM AKST Wed Dec 25 2019 .TODAY...N wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 8 ft. Freezing spray. .TONIGHT...NE wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 7 ft. Freezing spray. .THU...NE wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 5 to 8 ft. Freezing spray. .THU NIGHT...NE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 5 to 10 ft. .FRI THROUGH SUN...N wind 35 kt. Seas 10 to 18 ft. $$ PKZ413-260215- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and South of 56N- 305 AM AKST Wed Dec 25 2019 ...GALE WARNING THURSDAY... .TODAY...N wind 10 to 25 kt becoming E up to 15 kt in the afternoon. Seas 9 to 13 ft. .TONIGHT...E wind up to 20 kt increasing to 20 to 30 kt after midnight. Seas 6 to 9 ft. .THU...E wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft. .THU NIGHT...NE wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 10 to 18 ft. .FRI THROUGH SUN...N wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 12 to 20 ft. $$ PKZ414-260215- Bering Sea Offshore East of 171W- 305 AM AKST Wed Dec 25 2019 .TODAY...N wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. Freezing spray. .TONIGHT...N wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 7 to 10 ft. Freezing spray. .THU...NE wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 4 to 7 ft. Freezing spray. .THU NIGHT...NE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft. .FRI THROUGH SUN...N wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 9 to 17 ft. $$
10 follow-up statements
979 FZAK62 PAFC 260052 OFFALU Offshore Waters Forecast National Weather Service Anchorage AK 352 PM AKST Wed Dec 25 2019 Offshore Waters Forecast for the Bering Sea Wind forecasts reflect the predominant speed and direction expected. Sea forecasts represent an average of the highest one-third of the combined wind wave and swell height. PKZ499-261400- 352 PM AKST Wed Dec 25 2019 .SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA... A front moves into the southern Bering Wed night and remains nearly stationary through Fri afternoon. A 984 mb low at 44N 178W Wed afternoon moves to 49N 179E at 966 mb by Thu afternoon. A 979 mb low at 48N 163W Thu afternoon moves to 51N 163W at 964 mb Fri afternoon. $$ PKZ411-261400- Bering Sea Offshore West of 180 and East of the International Dateline- 352 PM AKST Wed Dec 25 2019 ...GALE WARNING THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT... .TONIGHT...E wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. Freezing spray. .THU...E wind 30 to 45 kt. Seas 12 to 20 ft. Freezing spray. .THU NIGHT...NE wind 30 to 45 kt. Seas 16 to 24 ft. Freezing spray. .FRI...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 14 to 22 ft. .FRI NIGHT...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 15 to 18 ft. .SAT THROUGH MON...N wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 14 to 22 ft. $$ PKZ412-261400- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and North of 56N- 352 PM AKST Wed Dec 25 2019 ...GALE WARNING THURSDAY NIGHT... .TONIGHT...NE wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 7 ft. Freezing spray. .THU...NE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 5 to 9 ft. Freezing spray. .THU NIGHT...NE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft. Freezing spray. .FRI...NE wind 25 to 35 kt. Seas 11 to 17 ft. .FRI NIGHT...NE wind 25 to 35 kt. Seas 13 to 17 ft. .SAT THROUGH SUN...N wind 35 kt. Seas 11 to 19 ft. .MON...N wind 20 to 30 kt. Seas 18 to 23 ft. $$ PKZ413-261400- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and South of 56N- 352 PM AKST Wed Dec 25 2019 ...GALE WARNING THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT... .TONIGHT...E wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. .THU...E wind 30 to 45 kt. Seas 10 to 18 ft. .THU NIGHT...NE wind 30 to 45 kt. Seas 13 to 21 ft. .FRI...NE wind 35 kt. Seas 16 to 19 ft. .FRI NIGHT...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 17 ft. .SAT THROUGH MON...N wind 25 to 35 kt. Seas 15 to 23 ft. $$ PKZ414-261400- Bering Sea Offshore East of 171W- 352 PM AKST Wed Dec 25 2019 ...GALE WARNING THURSDAY NIGHT... .TONIGHT...N wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 5 to 10 ft. Freezing spray. .THU...NE wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 4 to 7 ft. Freezing spray. .THU NIGHT...NE wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. Freezing spray. .FRI...NE wind 30 to 40 kt. Seas 11 to 19 ft. .FRI NIGHT...N wind 30 to 40 kt. Seas 14 to 19 ft. .SAT THROUGH MON...N wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 9 to 16 ft. $$
199 FZAK62 PAFC 261243 OFFALU Offshore Waters Forecast National Weather Service Anchorage AK 343 AM AKST Thu Dec 26 2019 Offshore Waters Forecast for the Bering Sea Wind forecasts reflect the predominant speed and direction expected. Sea forecasts represent an average of the highest one-third of the combined wind wave and swell height. PKZ499-270200- 343 AM AKST Thu Dec 26 2019 .SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA... A 970 mb low at 48N 179W Thu morning moves to 49N 178E at 968 mb by Thu afternoon. A 976 mb low at 49N 169W Thu afternoon moves to 53N 158W at 976 mb Fri afternoon. $$ PKZ411-270200- Bering Sea Offshore West of 180 and East of the International Dateline- 343 AM AKST Thu Dec 26 2019 ...GALE WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT... .TODAY...E wind 30 to 45 kt. Seas 12 to 20 ft. .TONIGHT...NE wind 30 to 45 kt. Seas 15 to 23 ft. Freezing spray. .FRI...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 13 to 20 ft. Freezing spray. .FRI NIGHT...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 14 to 19 ft. .SAT THROUGH MON...NW wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 15 to 23 ft. $$ PKZ412-270200- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and North of 56N- 343 AM AKST Thu Dec 26 2019 ...GALE WARNING TONIGHT AND FRIDAY... .TODAY...NE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 5 to 9 ft. Freezing spray. .TONIGHT...NE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft. Freezing spray. .FRI...NE wind 35 kt. Seas 11 to 17 ft. Freezing spray. .FRI NIGHT...NE wind 25 to 35 kt. Seas 14 to 17 ft. .SAT THROUGH MON...NW wind 35 kt. Seas 15 to 23 ft. $$ PKZ413-270200- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and South of 56N- 343 AM AKST Thu Dec 26 2019 ...GALE WARNING THROUGH FRIDAY... .TODAY...E wind 30 to 45 kt. Seas 10 to 18 ft. .TONIGHT...NE wind 30 to 45 kt. Seas 11 to 19 ft. .FRI...NE wind 35 kt. Seas 16 to 20 ft. Freezing spray. .FRI NIGHT...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 16 to 19 ft. .SAT THROUGH SUN...N wind 25 to 35 kt. Seas 15 to 23 ft. .MON...NW wind 30 kt. Seas 20 to 28 ft. $$ PKZ414-270200- Bering Sea Offshore East of 171W- 343 AM AKST Thu Dec 26 2019 ...GALE WARNING TONIGHT AND FRIDAY... ...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING FRIDAY... .TODAY...NE wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 4 to 7 ft. Freezing spray. .TONIGHT...NE wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. Freezing spray. .FRI...NE wind 30 to 40 kt. Seas 11 to 19 ft. Heavy freezing spray. .FRI NIGHT...N wind 30 to 40 kt. Seas 14 to 18 ft. .SAT THROUGH SUN...N wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 8 to 16 ft. .MON...NW wind 20 to 30 kt. Seas 14 to 22 ft. $$
024 FZAK62 PAFC 270010 OFFALU Offshore Waters Forecast National Weather Service Anchorage AK 310 PM AKST Thu Dec 26 2019 Offshore Waters Forecast for the Bering Sea Wind forecasts reflect the predominant speed and direction expected. Sea forecasts represent an average of the highest one-third of the combined wind wave and swell height. PKZ499-271400- 310 PM AKST Thu Dec 26 2019 .SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA... A 969 mb low at 49N 179E Thu afternoon will move to 48N 176E at 991 mb Fri afternoon. A complex 974 mb low at 49N 170W moves into the Gulf Sat afternoon. $$ PKZ411-271400- Bering Sea Offshore West of 180 and East of the International Dateline- 310 PM AKST Thu Dec 26 2019 ...GALE WARNING THROUGH FRIDAY... .TONIGHT...NE wind 30 to 45 kt. Seas 15 to 23 ft. .FRI...NE wind 35 kt. Seas 14 to 21 ft. .FRI NIGHT...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 15 to 19 ft. Freezing spray. .SAT...NE wind 25 to 35 kt. Seas 14 to 19 ft. .SAT NIGHT...NE wind 35 kt. Seas 15 to 21 ft. .SUN...N wind 25 to 35 kt. Seas 16 to 23 ft. .MON...NW wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 14 to 22 ft. .TUE...NW wind up to 15 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft. $$ PKZ412-271400- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and North of 56N- 310 PM AKST Thu Dec 26 2019 ...GALE WARNING THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT... .TONIGHT...NE wind 20 to 30 kt increasing to 30 to 40 kt after midnight. Seas 8 to 13 ft. Freezing spray. .FRI...NE wind 35 kt. Seas 12 to 18 ft. Freezing spray. Snow showers. .FRI NIGHT...NE wind 35 kt. Seas 14 to 18 ft. Freezing spray. Snow showers. .SAT...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 15 ft. .SAT NIGHT...NE wind 35 kt. Seas 15 ft. .SUN THROUGH MON...NW wind 30 to 40 kt. Seas 16 to 24 ft. .TUE...NW wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 9 to 17 ft. $$ PKZ413-271400- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and South of 56N- 310 PM AKST Thu Dec 26 2019 ...GALE WARNING THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT... .TONIGHT...NE wind 30 to 40 kt. Seas 12 to 20 ft. .FRI...NE wind 30 to 40 kt. Seas 17 to 22 ft. Snow showers. .FRI NIGHT...NE wind 35 kt. Seas 19 ft. Freezing spray. Snow showers. .SAT...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 14 to 17 ft. .SAT NIGHT...NE wind 35 kt. Seas 14 to 20 ft. .SUN THROUGH MON...NW wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 15 to 28 ft. .TUE...NW wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 12 to 20 ft. $$ PKZ414-271400- Bering Sea Offshore East of 171W- 310 PM AKST Thu Dec 26 2019 ...GALE WARNING THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT... ...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING FRIDAY NIGHT... .TONIGHT...NE wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft. Freezing spray. .FRI...NE wind 30 to 40 kt. Seas 11 to 19 ft. Freezing spray. .FRI NIGHT...NE wind 30 to 40 kt. Seas 14 to 19 ft. Heavy freezing spray. Snow showers. .SAT...N wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 12 to 16 ft. .SAT NIGHT...N wind 20 to 30 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. .SUN...N wind 20 to 30 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft. .MON THROUGH TUE...NW wind 20 to 30 kt. Seas 14 to 22 ft. $$
875 FZAK62 PAFC 271202 OFFALU Offshore Waters Forecast National Weather Service Anchorage AK 302 AM AKST Fri Dec 27 2019 Offshore Waters Forecast for the Bering Sea Wind forecasts reflect the predominant speed and direction expected. Sea forecasts represent an average of the highest one-third of the combined wind wave and swell height. PKZ499-280200- 302 AM AKST Fri Dec 27 2019 .SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA... A 960 mb low at 50N 169W Fri morning will move to 49N 166W at 968 mb Fri afternoon. This low weakens to 978 mb at 48N 158W Saturday morning. A new low of 947 mb at 43N 178E Sat afternoon will move to 46N 177W Sun morning. $$ PKZ411-280200- Bering Sea Offshore West of 180 and East of the International Dateline- 302 AM AKST Fri Dec 27 2019 ...GALE WARNING TODAY AND SATURDAY... .TODAY...NE wind 25 to 35 kt. Seas 15 to 21 ft. .TONIGHT...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 15 to 18 ft. Freezing spray. .SAT...NE wind 25 to 35 kt. Seas 14 to 18 ft. Freezing spray. .SAT NIGHT...NE wind 30 to 40 kt. Seas 14 to 20 ft. .SUN THROUGH MON...NW wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 15 to 25 ft. .TUE...NW wind up to 20 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. $$ PKZ412-280200- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and North of 56N- 302 AM AKST Fri Dec 27 2019 ...GALE WARNING THROUGH SATURDAY... ...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING TONIGHT AND SATURDAY... .TODAY...NE wind 30 to 40 kt. Seas 12 to 18 ft. Freezing spray. Snow showers. .TONIGHT...NE wind 35 kt. Seas 14 to 18 ft. Heavy freezing spray. Snow showers. .SAT...NE wind 25 to 35 kt. Seas 15 ft. Heavy freezing spray. Snow showers. .SAT NIGHT...NE wind 30 to 40 kt. Seas 14 to 17 ft. .SUN THROUGH MON...NW wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 15 to 26 ft. .TUE...NW wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 10 to 18 ft. $$ PKZ413-280200- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and South of 56N- 302 AM AKST Fri Dec 27 2019 ...GALE WARNING THROUGH SATURDAY... .TODAY...NE wind 30 to 40 kt. Seas 17 to 22 ft. Snow showers. .TONIGHT...NE wind 25 to 35 kt. Seas 18 ft. Freezing spray. Snow showers. .SAT...NE wind 25 to 35 kt. Seas 14 to 17 ft. Freezing spray. .SAT NIGHT...NE wind 30 to 40 kt. Seas 14 to 19 ft. .SUN THROUGH MON...NW wind 25 to 35 kt. Seas 13 to 28 ft. .TUE...NW wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 12 to 20 ft. $$ PKZ414-280200- Bering Sea Offshore East of 171W- 302 AM AKST Fri Dec 27 2019 ...GALE WARNING THROUGH SATURDAY... ...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING THROUGH SATURDAY... .TODAY...NE wind 40 kt. Seas 12 to 20 ft. Heavy freezing spray. .TONIGHT...N wind 30 to 40 kt. Seas 14 to 19 ft. Heavy freezing spray. Snow showers. .SAT...N wind 25 to 35 kt. Seas 11 to 16 ft. Heavy freezing spray. .SAT NIGHT...NE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. .SUN THROUGH TUE...NW wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 11 to 19 ft. $$
655 FZAK62 PAFC 280005 OFFALU Offshore Waters Forecast National Weather Service Anchorage AK 305 PM AKST Fri Dec 27 2019 Offshore Waters Forecast for the Bering Sea Wind forecasts reflect the predominant speed and direction expected. Sea forecasts represent an average of the highest one-third of the combined wind wave and swell height. PKZ499-281445- 305 PM AKST Fri Dec 27 2019 .SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA... A 966 mb low at 49N 167W moves to the North Pacific Sat morning. A 948 mb low at 42N 175E Sat morning moves to 44N 177W Sun afternoon. Its front moves along the central Aleutians through Sun afternoon. $$ PKZ411-281445- Bering Sea Offshore West of 180 and East of the International Dateline- 305 PM AKST Fri Dec 27 2019 ...GALE WARNING SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT... .TONIGHT...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 15 to 18 ft. Freezing spray. Snow showers. .SAT...NE wind 25 to 35 kt. Seas 14 to 19 ft. Freezing spray. Snow showers. .SAT NIGHT...NE wind 30 to 40 kt. Seas 13 to 20 ft. Freezing spray. Snow showers. .SUN...N wind 35 kt. Seas 16 to 20 ft. .SUN NIGHT...N wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 14 to 22 ft. .MON...NW wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 12 to 19 ft. .TUE...NW wind up to 20 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. .WED...E wind up to 20 kt. Seas 4 to 8 ft. $$ PKZ412-281445- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and North of 56N- 305 PM AKST Fri Dec 27 2019 ...GALE WARNING THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT... .TONIGHT...NE wind 35 kt. Seas 14 to 17 ft. Freezing spray. Widespread snow showers. .SAT...NE wind 25 to 35 kt. Seas 14 ft. Freezing spray. Snow showers. .SAT NIGHT...NE wind 35 kt. Seas 13 to 16 ft. Freezing spray. Snow showers. .SUN...N wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 13 to 21 ft. .SUN NIGHT...N wind 30 to 40 kt. Seas 16 to 23 ft. .MON THROUGH TUE...NW wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 11 to 19 ft. .WED...NW wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft. $$ PKZ413-281445- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and South of 56N- 305 PM AKST Fri Dec 27 2019 ...GALE WARNING THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT... .TONIGHT...NE wind 25 to 35 kt. Seas 18 ft. Freezing spray. Snow showers. .SAT...NE wind 25 to 35 kt. Seas 13 to 17 ft. Freezing spray. Snow showers. .SAT NIGHT...NE wind 30 to 40 kt. Seas 14 to 19 ft. Freezing spray. Snow showers. .SUN...NE wind 25 to 35 kt. Seas 13 to 20 ft. .SUN NIGHT...N wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 15 to 23 ft. .MON THROUGH TUE...NW wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 14 to 22 ft. .WED...NW wind up to 20 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. $$ PKZ414-281445- Bering Sea Offshore East of 171W- 305 PM AKST Fri Dec 27 2019 ...GALE WARNING THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT... ...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT... .TONIGHT...N wind 30 to 40 kt. Seas 14 to 19 ft. Heavy freezing spray. Snow showers. .SAT...N wind 25 to 35 kt. Seas 11 to 16 ft. Heavy freezing spray. Snow showers. .SAT NIGHT...NE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. Heavy freezing spray. Snow showers. .SUN...NE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft. .SUN NIGHT...N wind 20 to 30 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. .MON THROUGH WED...NW wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 12 to 20 ft. $$
720 FZAK62 PAFC 281233 OFFALU Offshore Waters Forecast National Weather Service Anchorage AK 333 AM AKST Sat Dec 28 2019 Offshore Waters Forecast for the Bering Sea Wind forecasts reflect the predominant speed and direction expected. Sea forecasts represent an average of the highest one-third of the combined wind wave and swell height. PKZ499-290230- 333 AM AKST Sat Dec 28 2019 .SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA... Sat morning a 976 mb low at 49N 157W moves to the 56N 146W Sat afternoon. A 950 mb low at 41N 172E moves to 44N 178W Sun morning. Its front moves along the central Aleutians Sat morning through Sun afternoon. $$ PKZ411-290230- Bering Sea Offshore West of 180 and East of the International Dateline- 333 AM AKST Sat Dec 28 2019 ...GALE WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY... .TODAY...NE wind 25 to 35 kt. Seas 14 to 19 ft. Freezing spray. Snow showers. .TONIGHT...NE wind 30 to 40 kt. Seas 13 to 20 ft. Freezing spray. Snow showers. .SUN...N wind 35 kt. Seas 16 to 20 ft. Freezing spray. Snow showers. .SUN NIGHT...N wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 15 to 23 ft. .MON...NW wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 11 to 19 ft. .TUE...NW wind up to 20 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft. .WED...NE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft. $$ PKZ412-290230- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and North of 56N- 333 AM AKST Sat Dec 28 2019 ...GALE WARNING TONIGHT AND SUNDAY... .TODAY...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 14 ft. Freezing spray. Snow showers. .TONIGHT...NE wind 35 kt. Seas 13 to 16 ft. Freezing spray. Snow showers. .SUN...N wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 12 to 20 ft. Freezing spray. Snow showers. .SUN NIGHT...N wind 30 to 40 kt. Seas 15 to 23 ft. .MON THROUGH WED...NW wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 10 to 18 ft. $$ PKZ413-290230- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and South of 56N- 333 AM AKST Sat Dec 28 2019 ...GALE WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY... .TODAY...NE wind 25 to 35 kt. Seas 13 to 17 ft. Freezing spray. Snow showers. .TONIGHT...NE wind 30 to 40 kt. Seas 14 to 19 ft. Freezing spray. Snow showers. .SUN...NE wind 25 to 35 kt. Seas 12 to 19 ft. Freezing spray. Snow showers. .SUN NIGHT...N wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 15 to 23 ft. .MON THROUGH TUE...NW wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 13 to 21 ft. .WED...NW wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft. $$ PKZ414-290230- Bering Sea Offshore East of 171W- 333 AM AKST Sat Dec 28 2019 ...GALE WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT... ...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY... .TODAY...N wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 12 to 16 ft. Heavy freezing spray. Snow showers. .TONIGHT...NE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. Heavy freezing spray. Snow showers. .SUN...NE wind 15 to 30 kt becoming 25 kt in the afternoon. Seas 6 to 11 ft. Heavy freezing spray. Snow showers. .SUN NIGHT...N wind 20 to 30 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. .MON THROUGH WED...NW wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 13 to 21 ft. $$
216 FZAK62 PAFC 290034 OFFALU Offshore Waters Forecast National Weather Service Anchorage AK 334 PM AKST Sat Dec 28 2019 Offshore Waters Forecast for the Bering Sea Wind forecasts reflect the predominant speed and direction expected. Sea forecasts represent an average of the highest one-third of the combined wind wave and swell height. PKZ499-291415- 334 PM AKST Sat Dec 28 2019 .SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA... A front moves over the western Aleutians Sat afternoon. The associated low moves to 44N 176W at 965 mb by Sun afternoon and then moves to 51N 165W at 966 mb Mon afternoon. $$ PKZ411-291415- Bering Sea Offshore West of 180 and East of the International Dateline- 334 PM AKST Sat Dec 28 2019 ...GALE WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT... .TONIGHT...NE wind 35 kt. Seas 13 to 20 ft. Freezing spray. Snow showers. .SUN...N wind 35 kt. Seas 16 to 20 ft. Freezing spray. .SUN NIGHT...N wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 14 to 22 ft. Freezing spray. .MON...N wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 11 to 19 ft. .MON NIGHT...NW wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 9 to 13 ft. .TUE...NW wind up to 20 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. .WED THROUGH THU...NE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. $$ PKZ412-291415- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and North of 56N- 334 PM AKST Sat Dec 28 2019 ...GALE WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT... .TONIGHT...NE wind 25 to 35 kt. Seas 13 to 16 ft. Freezing spray. Snow showers. .SUN...NE wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 13 to 21 ft. Freezing spray. Snow showers. .SUN NIGHT...N wind 30 to 40 kt. Seas 15 to 22 ft. Freezing spray. .MON...N wind 25 to 35 kt. Seas 14 to 18 ft. .MON NIGHT...N wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 13 to 16 ft. .TUE THROUGH THU...N wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 8 to 16 ft. $$ PKZ413-291415- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and South of 56N- 334 PM AKST Sat Dec 28 2019 ...GALE WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT... .TONIGHT...NE wind 35 kt. Seas 14 to 18 ft. Freezing spray. Snow showers. .SUN...NE wind 25 to 35 kt. Seas 13 to 19 ft. Freezing spray. Snow showers. .SUN NIGHT...N wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 15 to 23 ft. Freezing spray. Snow showers. .MON...N wind 30 to 40 kt. Seas 16 to 22 ft. .MON NIGHT...N wind 25 to 35 kt. Seas 14 to 19 ft. .TUE...NW wind 20 to 30 kt. Seas 11 to 19 ft. .WED...NW wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft. .THU...NE wind up to 15 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. $$ PKZ414-291415- Bering Sea Offshore East of 171W- 334 PM AKST Sat Dec 28 2019 ...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT... .TONIGHT...NE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. Heavy freezing spray. Snow showers. .SUN...NE wind 15 to 30 kt becoming 25 kt in the afternoon. Seas 7 to 12 ft. Heavy freezing spray. Snow showers. .SUN NIGHT...N wind 20 to 30 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. Heavy freezing spray. .MON...N wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 9 to 17 ft. .MON NIGHT...N wind 40 kt. Seas 13 to 21 ft. .TUE...NW wind 30 to 45 kt. Seas 16 to 23 ft. .WED...NW wind 30 kt. Seas 14 ft. .THU...NW wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. $$
925 FZAK62 PAFC 291225 OFFALU Offshore Waters Forecast National Weather Service Anchorage AK 325 AM AKST Sun Dec 29 2019 Offshore Waters Forecast for the Bering Sea Wind forecasts reflect the predominant speed and direction expected. Sea forecasts represent an average of the highest one-third of the combined wind wave and swell height. PKZ499-300200- 325 AM AKST Sun Dec 29 2019 .SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA... A front moves over the central and eastern Aleutians Sun morning. The associated low at 44N 179W at 954 mb moves to 50N 167W Mon morning. $$ PKZ411-300200- Bering Sea Offshore West of 180 and East of the International Dateline- 325 AM AKST Sun Dec 29 2019 ...GALE WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT... .TODAY...N wind 35 kt. Seas 16 to 20 ft. Freezing spray. .TONIGHT...N wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 14 to 22 ft. Freezing spray. .MON...N wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 11 to 19 ft. Freezing spray. .MON NIGHT...NW wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 9 to 13 ft. .TUE...NW wind up to 20 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. .WED THROUGH THU...NE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 8 to 16 ft. $$ PKZ412-300200- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and North of 56N- 325 AM AKST Sun Dec 29 2019 ...GALE WARNING THROUGH MONDAY... .TODAY...NE wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 13 to 21 ft. Freezing spray. Snow showers. .TONIGHT...N wind 30 to 40 kt. Seas 15 to 23 ft. Freezing spray. .MON...N wind 35 kt. Seas 14 to 19 ft. Freezing spray. Snow showers. .MON NIGHT...N wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 13 to 17 ft. .TUE THROUGH THU...N wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 9 to 17 ft. $$ PKZ413-300200- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and South of 56N- 325 AM AKST Sun Dec 29 2019 ...GALE WARNING THROUGH MONDAY... .TODAY...NE wind 25 to 35 kt. Seas 13 to 20 ft. Freezing spray. Snow showers. .TONIGHT...N wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 16 to 24 ft. Freezing spray. Snow showers. .MON...N wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 16 to 23 ft. Freezing spray. .MON NIGHT...N wind 25 to 35 kt. Seas 14 to 20 ft. .TUE THROUGH WED...NW wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 10 to 18 ft. .THU...NE wind up to 20 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. $$ PKZ414-300200- Bering Sea Offshore East of 171W- 325 AM AKST Sun Dec 29 2019 ...GALE WARNING MONDAY... ...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING THROUGH MONDAY... .TODAY...NE wind 15 to 30 kt becoming 25 kt in the afternoon. Seas 6 to 11 ft. Heavy freezing spray. Snow showers. .TONIGHT...N wind 20 to 30 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. Heavy freezing spray. .MON...N wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 9 to 16 ft. Heavy freezing spray. .MON NIGHT...N wind 40 kt. Seas 13 to 21 ft. .TUE THROUGH WED...NW wind 30 to 45 kt. Seas 14 to 22 ft. .THU...NW wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. $$
120 FZAK62 PAFC 300007 OFFALU Offshore Waters Forecast National Weather Service Anchorage AK 307 PM AKST Sun Dec 29 2019 Offshore Waters Forecast for the Bering Sea Wind forecasts reflect the predominant speed and direction expected. Sea forecasts represent an average of the highest one-third of the combined wind wave and swell height. PKZ499-301430- 307 PM AKST Sun Dec 29 2019 .SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA... A front along the Aleutians dissipates in the North Pacific for Mon morning. A 966 mb low at 46N 173W moves into Southwest Alaska at 972 mb Mon night. Its front moves into the Gulf of Alaska through Tue afternoon. $$ PKZ411-301430- Bering Sea Offshore West of 180 and East of the International Dateline- 307 PM AKST Sun Dec 29 2019 ...GALE WARNING TONIGHT... .TONIGHT...N wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 14 to 22 ft. Freezing spray. .MON...N wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 11 to 18 ft. Freezing spray. .MON NIGHT...N wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 9 to 13 ft. Freezing spray. .TUE...NW wind up to 20 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. .TUE NIGHT...N wind up to 20 kt. Seas 6 to 9 ft. .WED THROUGH FRI...NE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 8 to 16 ft. $$ PKZ412-301430- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and North of 56N- 307 PM AKST Sun Dec 29 2019 ...GALE WARNING THROUGH MONDAY... .TONIGHT...N wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 15 to 23 ft. Freezing spray. Snow showers. .MON...N wind 25 to 35 kt. Seas 14 to 19 ft. Freezing spray. Widespread snow showers. .MON NIGHT...N wind 20 to 30 kt. Seas 11 to 17 ft. Freezing spray. Snow showers. .TUE...NW wind 20 to 30 kt. Seas 9 to 17 ft. .TUE NIGHT...NW wind 20 to 30 kt. Seas 9 to 15 ft. .WED...NW wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft. .THU THROUGH FRI...NE wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. $$ PKZ413-301430- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and South of 56N- 307 PM AKST Sun Dec 29 2019 ...GALE WARNING THROUGH MONDAY... .TONIGHT...N wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 15 to 23 ft. Freezing spray. Snow showers. .MON...N wind 25 to 35 kt. Seas 16 to 22 ft. Freezing spray. Widespread snow showers. .MON NIGHT...N wind 20 to 30 kt. Seas 13 to 18 ft. Freezing spray. .TUE...NW wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 10 to 18 ft. .TUE NIGHT...NW wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 9 to 16 ft. .WED...NW wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. .THU THROUGH FRI...E wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft. $$ PKZ414-301430- Bering Sea Offshore East of 171W- 307 PM AKST Sun Dec 29 2019 ...GALE WARNING MONDAY NIGHT... ...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT... .TONIGHT...N wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft. Heavy freezing spray. Snow showers. .MON...N wind 20 to 30 kt. Seas 8 to 16 ft. Heavy freezing spray. Snow. .MON NIGHT...N wind 30 to 40 kt. Seas 12 to 20 ft. Heavy freezing spray. Snow showers. .TUE...N wind 30 to 45 kt. Seas 17 to 21 ft. .TUE NIGHT...NW wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 15 to 21 ft. .WED...NW wind 35 kt. Seas 13 to 19 ft. .THU THROUGH FRI...N wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. $$
545 FZAK62 PAFC 301239 OFFALU Offshore Waters Forecast National Weather Service Anchorage AK 339 AM AKST Mon Dec 30 2019 Offshore Waters Forecast for the Bering Sea Wind forecasts reflect the predominant speed and direction expected. Sea forecasts represent an average of the highest one-third of the combined wind wave and swell height. PKZ499-310145- 339 AM AKST Mon Dec 30 2019 .SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA... A 974 mb low in the North Pacific will move to Kodiak Island at 968 mb Tue evening, then move into the North Gulf Tue night. $$ PKZ411-310145- Bering Sea Offshore West of 180 and East of the International Dateline- 339 AM AKST Mon Dec 30 2019 .TODAY...N wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 10 to 18 ft. Freezing spray. .TONIGHT...N wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. Freezing spray. .TUE...NW wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 9 ft. Freezing spray. .TUE NIGHT...NW wind up to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 8 ft. .WED THROUGH FRI...NE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 8 to 16 ft. $$ PKZ412-310145- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and North of 56N- 339 AM AKST Mon Dec 30 2019 ...GALE WARNING TODAY... ...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING TONIGHT... .TODAY...N wind 25 to 35 kt. Seas 15 to 19 ft. Freezing spray. Widespread snow showers. .TONIGHT...N wind 20 to 30 kt. Seas 11 to 16 ft. Heavy freezing spray. Snow showers. .TUE...NW wind 20 to 30 kt. Seas 9 to 15 ft. Freezing spray. Snow showers. .TUE NIGHT...NW wind 20 to 30 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. .WED THROUGH THU...N wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. .FRI...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. $$ PKZ413-310145- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and South of 56N- 339 AM AKST Mon Dec 30 2019 ...GALE WARNING TODAY... .TODAY...N wind 25 to 35 kt. Seas 16 to 21 ft. Freezing spray. Snow. .TONIGHT...N wind 20 to 30 kt. Seas 12 to 17 ft. Freezing spray. .TUE...NW wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 9 to 16 ft. Freezing spray. .TUE NIGHT...NW wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. .WED...NW wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. .THU THROUGH FRI...E wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft. $$ PKZ414-310145- Bering Sea Offshore East of 171W- 339 AM AKST Mon Dec 30 2019 ...GALE WARNING TONIGHT AND TUESDAY... ...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING TONIGHT AND TUESDAY... .TODAY...N wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft. Freezing spray. Widespread snow showers. .TONIGHT...N wind 30 to 40 kt. Seas 10 to 17 ft. Heavy freezing spray. Widespread snow showers. .TUE...N wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 14 to 18 ft. Heavy freezing spray. Snow showers. .TUE NIGHT...NW wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 13 to 17 ft. .WED THROUGH THU...NW wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 10 to 18 ft. .FRI...N wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 4 to 7 ft. $$
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this gale warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Anchorage, AK wrote its last area forecast discussion before this gale warning went out at Dec 24, 4:55 PM AKST, 10 hours 10 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Dec 24, 4:55 PM AKST, 10 hours 10 minutes before
Southcentral and Southwest Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
455 PM AKST Tue Dec 24 2019
.ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS...
A negatively tilted trough extending from Western Alaska southeast
towards the southern Kenai Peninsula is providing the forcing
required for widespread snow across the Cook Inlet region this
afternoon. Snow reducing visibility to 1 mile at times has been
reported in Kenai, with a brief period of heavy snow earlier this
morning in Homer. Meanwhile the radar looks very convective for
the northern Gulf over to eastern Prince William Sound.
Temperatures have warmed above freezing in Cordova, making the
precipitation fall as rain. From Valdez over to Thompson Pass,
where the precipitation is expected to remain all snow, it is
increasing in intensity. For Southwest Alaska, the weather story
remains the very cold temperatures. 20 below was seen for several
hours this morning in Aniak, with Koliganek and points west
dropping below zero. Some lingering cloud cover remains towards
Iliamna, but that is clearing as the aforementioned trough swings
through. A developing low just south of the Aleutians is bringing
occasionally moderate snow with gusty winds to the western and
central Aleutians and a rain/snow mix in Dutch Harbor. Cold air
continues to pour southward across the northern Bering into the
Aleutians low.
&&
.MODEL DISCUSSION...
The overall large-scale synoptic pattern in the models remains in
good agreement, though the NAM is a clear outlier among the models
in snowfall amounts around Anchorage and the Mat-Su for the
ongoing snowfall. While many of the local-scale models are well
clustered in Anchorage getting a few inches of snow this evening,
the NAM suggests it mostly misses the area. However, the NAM is
clearly poorly initialized, not resolving the snow ongoing across
the Kenai Peninsula. Thus, that solution is being excluded.
Otherwise, a very active weather pattern over the next week
supports that forecast confidence will be below normal, even with
good model agreement, as slight differences in the track of the
upcoming lows will make large differences in the forecast.
&&
.AVIATION...
PANC...Snow will bring conditions down to IFR or LIFR levels into
the evening hours as an upper level wave tapping into Gulf
moisture brings snow to the area. It will gradually diminish
overnight, but snow showers remain possible well into tonight. The
next round of snow tomorrow could begin as early as midday,
though is more likely tomorrow evening and through the overnight.
Visibilities dropping down into the IFR category at times will be
possible once again.
&&
.SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA (Days 1 and 2)...
Snow has commenced as a negative shortwave trough lifts northeast
across Southcentral. Out ahead of it, convective snow showers are
impacting the coast (mixed rain in Cordova) with heavy snow
through Thompson Pass. Moderate snow has pushed across the Kenai
and is now moving into interior Southcentral and will continue
through tonight with an additional 2-5" snow, heaviest from
Anchorage to the northern Susitna Valley. Expect lighter but
continuous snow in the Copper Basin through Wednesday. Cold air
advection wrapping around the back of this low will move from
the Barren Islands into Kachemak Bay, up Cook Inlet, and into
Prince William Sound.
Attention quickly turns to a fast moving low tracking into the
Gulf of Alaska Christmas Day. This occluded low will bring storm
force winds to the North Coast with strong northerly winds coming
down Cook Inlet in response to the strong 968 mb low south of the
Kenai Peninsula. Snow will also overrun this down inlet flow, and
with 30-45 MPH winds moving down the inlet, issued a winter
weather advisory for blowing snow along the western Kenai
Peninsula including the Homer Bluff area. Expect potentially
significantly reduced visibility and areas of drifting snow.
Elsewhere, widespread overrunning snow should impact most of
Southcentral Wednesday through Thursday. As the low moves east,
strong cold air advection ensues and will blast westerly and
northerly gap winds through the eastern Kenai, so issued a winter
weather advisory for blowing snow from Seward to Portage Valley
and Turnagain Pass. This event will be longer lasting than the
western Kenai advisory since the offshore winds and longer lasting
snow event will keep things going a bit longer. Cold air
advection dries things out Thursday evening with much cooler air
moving in. Only area where snow will linger is the Copper Basin.
&&
.SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHWEST ALASKA (Days 1 and 2)...
An upper trough remains situated over western Alaska, with Arctic
high pressure over northern Alaska. The impending bitter cold
continues to be the main story in the forecast. Temperatures will
plummet as the upper trough digs southward and northerly flow
strengthens. A wind chill advisory remains in effect for tonight
through Wednesday evening for the Kuskokwim Delta, including
Bethel. Wind chills down to -50 are possible in the Kuskokwim
Delta. Temperatures will likely drop to 20 to 30 below zero in
the middle Kuskokwim Valley tonight, but surface winds should
stay below 10 mph. Meanwhile in the Greater Bristol Bay area
expect overnight lows tonight of 5 to 15 below zero. Expect cold,
dry weather and clear skies over most of the mainland Wednesday,
with a few exceptions. Areas along the north side of the AKPEN,
including King Salmon, Iliamna, Pilot Point and Port Heiden may
see some snow during the day as a low currently south of the
Aleutians tracks eastward towards the Gulf of Alaska.
Once the low progresses into the Gulf, cold air advection will
strengthen over the Southwest Mainland, and temperatures will drop
even further Thursday. That said, with a diminished pressure
gradient once the low clears to the east, this will no longer be a
favorable pattern for hazardous wind chills.
&&
.SHORT TERM FORECAST BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS (Days 1 and 2)...
A low currently roughly 80 miles southeast of Seguam continues to
be the focus this evening. The low will continue to bring gales
to the southern Bering and central/eastern Aleutians into
tomorrow, with an embedded swath of storm force winds. In
addition, there is concern about snow impacts in the
central/eastern Aleutians up to the southern AKPEN. The winter
weather advisory for blowing snow in the central Aleutians has
been extended until late tonight. A deformation band has developed
on the back side of the low, which is causing precipitation to
persist longer than initially expected. Looking farther east,
we've issued winter weather advisories for blowing snow in the
eastern Aleutians up the AKPEN for tonight/ Wednesday morning.
This includes (but is not limited to) Unalaska, Akun, Cold Bay and
King Cove. Confidence is good in forecast wind speeds, but not
great with precipitation type. The track of the low so close to
the chain really presents a challenge, with very cold air blowing
south over the Bering (though SSTs continue to be over 40
degrees) and warm moist air being drawn in from the south. It's
possible that precipitation type will switch to and from snow over
the islands...but given some strong winds even a wet snow will
create visibility impacts and hazardous travel conditions.
The low will exit to the Gulf Wednesday afternoon, and in its wake
expect strong gap winds south of the eastern Aleutians/AKPEN. A
pair of lows approaches the Aleutian chain from the southwest by
Thursday, bringing another bout of gales and wet weather.
&&
.MARINE (Days 3 through 5)...
(Friday through Sunday)
...Bering Sea and Aleutian Coastal Waters...
An active pattern is in store for the Aleutians coastal waters,
with multiple areas of low pressure affecting them. The first
storm stalls south of Amchitka on Friday, with another rapidly
deepening low tracking from well south of Cold Bay towards Kodiak
Island. These two storms act in concert to spread sustained gales
across all of the Aleutian chain and into the southern half of the
Bering Sea. Seas will be in the 15 to 20 feet range on the Bering
Side and 20 to 25 feet on the Pacific side.
These winds and waves subside some for Saturday, before another
storm approaches the east central Aleutians from the Pacific,
while remaining well offshore. Northeasterly winds on the
backside of the low will spread sustain gales across all of the
Aleutian chain and the southern half of the Bering, with seas
building to near 20 feet across the southwestern bering and west
of Nikolski for the Aleutians. Some sustain storm force winds may
develop as well for the east central Aleutians, depending on the
track of the low (how close to the coast does it get and how
quickly does it deepen).
...Gulf of Alaska...
A trio of storms will move across the Gulf, with a storm on Friday
bringing widespread sustained gales to all of the Gulf and perhaps
localized storm force winds possible along the northern Gulf
Coast and near the low center south of Kodiak Island. Seas of 15
to 20 feet may develop for the outer waters. Then, a second storm
moves in quickly on its heels for Saturday, with sustain gales and
a similar sea state. A third storm again moves into the region,
with high-end sustained gales and perhaps sustained storms near
the coast, with an increasing sea state expected, perhaps in the
20 to 30 feet range for the offshore waters and 15 to 20 feet
closer to the coast.
&&
.LONG TERM FORECAST (Days 3 through 7)...
(Friday through Monday)
This looks to be possibly one of the most active pattern in many
years for the region, as the current model suite shows several
storms affecting the region in the extended period, and that's on
top of the first two moving through before it. These will bring
multiple rounds of accumulating snowfall to all of Southcentral,
with some pretty impressive totals possible for some coastal
locations if the current model projections don't change (we all
know they usually do, as the further you go out in time, the more
the model variability increases).
An important feature to watch in later model runs is an unusually
strong mid-level polar low off the North Slope that just sits
there while deepening to 477 dm. That in turn allows for a second
strong mid-level low on the order of 495 dm to take up residence
in the Bristol Bay region. These two systems then act in concert
to funnel very cold air from the Arctic into southwest Alaska,
with the Alaska Range keeping it just north and west of
Southcentral. This in turn allows for a third trough further south
in the north Pacific to feed off this funneling of colder air
aloft to help induce cyclogenesis (low pressure development), with
these storms intensifying as they track just along the baroclinic
zone aloft (just east of the trough axis), while the degree of
the cold air poised just north and west of the Alaska Range
prevents the storm track from moving further west or ingesting
warmer air from regions further south. This is because as the low
approaches, it does ingest colder air on the backside of each low,
as the air will be -30 deg. C at 850 mb (~4400 feet) across
southwest Alaska. This air modifies some, but stays cold enough to
allow any over-running precipitation to remain as snow.
So now on to the details. Our first storm (for the extended
period) moves from the north Pacific on Friday, to western Prince
William Sound Saturday morning. This storm will be in a deepening
phase, helping to draw abundant moisture northward.
Quickly on its heels is a second storm that moves from the
southwestern Gulf Saturday morning, to western Prince William by
late Saturday evening, with more abundant moisture spreading
northward.
Then on Sunday, another fairly strong low moves from Kodiak
Island, to yep...you guessed it...western Prince William Sound
with a more pronounced precipitation shield ahead of it, due to a
stronger warm front aloft.
A fourth storm in a deepening phase will then track into the
Alaska Peninsula on Monday, with more over-running precipitation
moving into the region.
&&
.AFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PUBLIC...Winter Weather Advisory 121 125 181 185 187.
Wind Chill Advisory 155.
Flood Advisory 145.
MARINE...Storm Warning 119 130 170 173 174 176.
Gale Warning 120 121 125 131 132 136 137 138 139 140
150 155 160 165 171 172 175 177 178 179
180 351 352 413 414.
Heavy Freezing Spray Warning 160 180 181.
FIRE WEATHER...NONE.
&&
SYNOPSIS AND MODEL DISCUSSION...JW
SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA...JA
SOUTHWEST ALASKA/BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS...MM
MARINE/LONG TERM...PDIn the hours before
Local storm report, Dec 24, 9:33 PM AKST, 5 hours 32 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
933 PM AKST TUE DEC 24 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0626 PM SNOW 8 NW HOMER 59.68N 151.60W
12/24/2019 M3.0 INCH KENAI PENINSULA AK CO-OP OBSERVER
0927 PM SNOW 8 SSE ANCHORAGE 61.11N 149.82W
12/24/2019 M6.0 INCH ANCHORAGE AK NWS EMPLOYEE
HUFFMAN RD/ELMORE RD.
0925 PM SNOW 4 SE ANCHORAGE 61.16N 149.83W
12/24/2019 M7.0 INCH ANCHORAGE AK NWS EMPLOYEE
LAKE OTIS PKWY/E 68TH AVE.
0922 PM SNOW 5 SW ANCHORAGE 61.16N 149.98W
12/24/2019 M4.3 INCH ANCHORAGE AK OFFICIAL NWS OBS
SAND LAKE RD./RASPBERRY RD.
0649 PM SNOW 8 SSE ANCHORAGE 61.11N 149.82W
12/24/2019 M4.5 INCH ANCHORAGE AK NWS EMPLOYEE
HUFFMAN AND LAKE OTIS.
0640 PM SNOW 7 SSE ANCHORAGE 61.11N 149.85W
12/24/2019 E4.5 INCH ANCHORAGE AK PUBLIC
SEWARD HWY/HUFFMAN RD.
0625 PM SNOW 2 SE EAGLE RIVER 61.30N 149.53W
12/24/2019 M2.2 INCH ANCHORAGE AK NWS EMPLOYEE
EAGLE RIVER RD./E EAGLE RIVER LOOP RD.
0622 PM SNOW 4 SE ANCHORAGE 61.16N 149.83W
12/24/2019 M4.0 INCH ANCHORAGE AK NWS EMPLOYEE
LAKE OTIS RD./E 68TH AVE.
0620 PM SNOW 5 SW ANCHORAGE 61.16N 149.98W
12/24/2019 M3.0 INCH ANCHORAGE AK OFFICIAL NWS OBS
NWS ANCHORAGE - SAND LAKE RD./RASPBERRY RD.
0900 PM SNOW EAGLE RIVER 61.32N 149.54W
12/24/2019 M5.0 INCH ANCHORAGE AK NWS EMPLOYEE
BARONOFF AVE/E EAGLE RIVER LOOP RD.
&&Local storm report, Dec 24, 11:07 PM AKST, 3 hours 58 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
1107 PM AKST TUE DEC 24 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1106 PM SNOW STROGANOFF DRIVE, ANCHO 61.12N 149.71W
12/24/2019 M6.0 INCH ANCHORAGE AK TRAINED SPOTTER
&&The office that day
Everything else NWS Anchorage, AK issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 24, 3:08 PM AKST | Heavy Freezing Spray Warning | AFC | 8 days | |
| Dec 24, 3:17 PM AKST | Winter Weather Advisory | AFC | 18 hr | |
| Dec 24, 3:43 PM AKST | Winter Weather Advisory | AFC | 44 hr | |
| Dec 24, 3:48 PM AKST | Gale Warning | AFC | 4 days | |
| Dec 24, 3:48 PM AKST | Small Craft Advisory | AFC | 59 hr | |
| Dec 24, 3:48 PM AKST | Storm Warning | AFC | 59 hr | |
| Dec 24, 6:56 PM AKST | Winter Weather Advisory | AFC | 5 hr | |
| Dec 25, 3:10 AM AKST | Gale Warning | AFC | 6 days | |
| Dec 25, 3:10 AM AKST | Small Craft Advisory | AFC | 13 hr | |
| Dec 25, 3:16 AM AKST | Storm Warning | AFC | 37 hr | |
| Dec 25, 3:16 AM AKST | Heavy Freezing Spray Warning | AFC | 48 hr |
Nearby
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text.